1.44MB Game Development Contest: Build a Complete Game on a Single Floppy...

A game development contest is asking creators to build complete, playable games inside 1.44 megabytes — the storage capacity of a single 3.5-inch floppy disk. The contest, organised by the game culture project group 2P GAME ARCADE, is open for entries through September 4, 2026. It is being run in collaboration with Minimap, IndieGame.com, Chungkang College of Cultural Industries and Myongji College, with a prize pool of KRW 1.14 million in total.

The defining rule is the size limit itself. Everything required to run an entry must fit within 1.44MB, and the cap covers every component of the distribution package, including the game engine and any libraries. Entries must run standalone — no server, no internet connection, no web browser — which means HTML-or browser-dependent games are not eligible. There are otherwise no restrictions on development technology: entrants can use C++, HSP, other languages, custom-built tools, or lightweight engines. Games do not need to be shipped on a physical floppy disk, and both individuals and teams may enter, provided they hold rights to all the programs, images and audio in their submissions.

The prizes break down as KRW 720,000 for first place, KRW 280,000 for second and KRW 140,000 for third. Winning entries are scheduled to be featured at future 2P GAME ARCADE events and through the organisation's online channels, which gives the contest a concrete path beyond the prize money.

The contest is designed as an experiment in constraint-driven creation rather than nostalgia for an old storage medium. A 2P GAME ARCADE representative framed it directly: the goal is not to simply strip graphics and audio down to 1.44MB, but to force developers to reconsider what makes a game fundamentally fun when every byte counts. With indie platforms and game-education institutions as partners, the organisers expect submissions from working indie developers, game-development students, and emerging creators.

For anyone working in game development or constraint-based creative practice, this is a current opportunity with a firm September 4 deadline. Entries remain open. Submissions are accepted through the contest's official site, 2PGARCADE.COM, with inquiries handled via onlia1214@2pgarcade.com or mecagun@2pgarcade.com.